<p>I've been searching and searching for an answer to this question and still haven't found one. I've narrowed my college search down to Notre Dame and UMich. There's things I really like and things I don't like about each university, and they're pretty equal in my mind right now. I'm basically having a really tough time deciding between the two.</p>
<p>My major will be engineering, so I was wondering which university would be better for engineering. I specifically want to go into chemE. Also, I want to consider study abroad opportunities (Notre Dame apparently gives grants for this), career opportunities (the Notre Dame network is huge, but I haven't heard as much about UMich career opportunities), and just the universities in general. Any help will be GREATLY appreciated.</p>
<p>bump??
i seriously need help…</p>
<p>Michigan is much better for engineering. Plus, if you ever want to change majors (which is possible), Michigan just happens to be amazing at everything else. </p>
<p>Post this thread in the Michigan section. You will get lots of help there.</p>
<p>thank you so much for the help. i’ll definitely post it there!</p>
<p>If you want to change majors at Notre Dame, it is no problem, either. In fact, at Notre Dame, you are placed in a First Year Studies program in which you don’t have to declare a major until Spring Semester, including Engineering major/specialty. Mendoza School of Business has an excellent reputation. And, the Alumni Network for Notre Dame which can directly help with employment, is phenomenal. I wouldn’t rule out Notre Dame entirely. Plus, Notre Dame has invested quite a bit of money in their engineering program lately. You might consider posting on Notre Dame’s forum as well.</p>
<p>Thank you! I will definitely do that as well. This is a really tough decision. As of now, i’m split 50-50 between the two…</p>
<p>Michigan>>ND for engineering.</p>
<p>Michigan is the better engineering school of the two and it reall isn’t even close. Notre Dame has a strong alumni network, but it is much stronger in business than in engineering. Michigan has a great alumni network as well, and theirs is strong for engineering.</p>
<p>Michigan has awesome engineering programs and great programs in everything else. Michigan, aside from engineering, really is a comparable overall school to Notre Dame. The engineering departmnt itself is bigger, more well-known, produces far more high-profile research, and in my opinion (based on an admittedly limited experience) produces better engineers. I never have been impressed by the technical prowess of UND engineers I have worked with, though I will admit the sample size is small and doesn’t necessarily represent the whole program.</p>
<p>Last, Ann Arbor is a more vibrant town than South Bend.</p>
<p>No question-for academics very close, for life-Notre Dame.</p>
<p>Indiana is a terrible terrible state.</p>
<p>Michigan probably has a stronger engineering program, plus from my discussion with my brother (current ND student), your study abroad options are pretty limited. Granted, none of his engineering friends have had trouble getting jobs with top firms (Boeing, GE, Lockheed, et. al.), but I do think that within the scope of engineering, UMich carries more prestige. In other fields, I definitely think ND trumps, especially beyond the Midwest. A big consideration in the current economic envrionment is certainly scholarships. If you’re risk-averse (i.e., worried you might spend 4 years in college and not get a good job on the other end), then it would make sense for you to pick the significantly cheaper option, which would probably be Michigan.</p>
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<p>Couldn’t disagree more with this statement.</p>
<p>For engineering academics, Michigan wins, hands down. For life, I still give it to Ann Arbor over South Bend.</p>
<p>Your entitled to your opinion on Indiana but the college campuses on the state do not reflect this. With a school like Notre Dame you are getting a majority of kids coming from out of state any way.<br>
As for your decision if you are sure you are doing Engineering go to Michigan. If you are still undecided it is a toss up both have great business as well as other great programs.</p>
<p>If you change your mind about engineering, how difficult would it be for you to transfer to another major? At ND, it is very easy! Can’t speak about UMich, but it is something I would investigate.</p>
<p>I would strongly encourage a visit to both schools and esp both schools’ career centers. Decide for yourself the climate, so to speak, that exists at both schools and ask plenty of questions of students, professors, and admissions staff.</p>
<p>And, I have always advocated that choosing a particular college is a very personal decision, and one that should esp be based upon available finances, esp in this economy. I would not make decisions solely based upon posts in this forum. Good Luck!</p>
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<p>Well that should be a rule of thumb for any decision and any forum, haha.</p>
<p>Yes, you are correct^^. But, too many times I think people have a false sense of reliability with regards to this forum!</p>
<p>That is a problem with life. How many people blindly follow MSNBC or FoxNEWS?</p>
<p>So you’ve got filter your sources. I would prefer the opinion of a working engineer who can attest to the employability of either school’s grads or a current student who can speak to the quality of life and classwork. Those would be the most valuable. Things tend to get a lot fuzzier and more anecdotal the farther you get from those primary sources.</p>
<p>“In other fields, I definitely think ND trumps, especially beyond the Midwest.”</p>
<p>Really? Care to enlighten the rest of us which ones?</p>
<p>I am going to have to side with rjkofnovi here. ND is a good school but it doesn’t trump UMich in many areas regardless of geography. UMich is a nationally known university, especially in engineering.</p>